South Korean K-Drama Industry Demands $746 Million Rescue as Production Slumps
South Korean industry groups call for a 1 trillion won fund to save the K-drama sector as production output drops significantly worldwide.
POLICY WIRE — Seoul, South Korea — A coalition of twelve industry organizations issued a stark warning on Wednesday that the foundation of the nation’s television drama sector is facing peril.
The groups are urging the South Korean government to establish a 1 trillion won, or approximately $746 million, investment fund to stabilize the production of K-dramas.
While South Korean series continue to enjoy massive global popularity, the actual volume of content has seen a sharp decline. Data shows that production numbers plummeted from 141 titles in 2022 to an estimated 115 shows for 2025.
This downturn represents a growing threat to the future of the genre despite its international success. Industry figures like Park Hae-young, the writer behind ‘My Mister,’ have noted that the crisis is already causing assistant writers to lose their livelihoods.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
